Commodities Update China’s imports of industrial commodities drop sharply China’s commodity imports fell in June, with industrial commodities the worst affected due to the slowdown in economic activity. While end-user demand may recover a little in the second half, this may... 10th July 2012 · 1 min read
China Data Response Consumer & Producer Prices (Jun.) Consumer price inflation tumbled last month. Underlying price pressures are weak and will be no constraint to further policy easing. Premier Wen made clear over the weekend that the government intends... 9th July 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Property risks remain China’s frozen property market is showing signs of a thaw. Sales took off in the second half of June and prices are rising for the first time in months. Recovery in the sector would help haul the... 6th July 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Second rate cut points to deepening growth concerns Today’s unexpected interest rate cut suggests that policymakers in China are increasingly rattled by the state of the economy. The move’s loosening impact will be amplified by the decision to increase... 6th July 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Inflation Monitor (Jun.) Consumer price inflation tumbled to near 2% y/y in June, we believe. With the government pushing up electricity prices for heavy residential users starting this week, the headline rate may not get... 4th July 2012 · 1 min read
China Data Response Manufacturing PMIs (Jun.) Both China’s manufacturing PMIs weakened again last month but there were some positive signs. 2nd July 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Focus Can we trust the data? Questions are again being asked about whether we can trust China’s economic data. Our attempts to track the speed of the economy using our China Activity Proxy do not support suggestions of widespread... 29th June 2012 · 1 min read
Latin America Chart Pack Weaker Chinese demand starting to weigh on exports There are growing signs that falling commodity prices and weaker demand from China are starting to take their toll on the economies of Latin America. In those countries that are most dependent on... 28th June 2012 · 1 min read
China Activity Monitor Property holding economy back The Capital Economics China Activity Proxy (CAP) points to a further decline in GDP growth this quarter, with construction and service sector activity particularly weak. 22nd June 2012 · 1 min read
China Data Response HSBC/Markit Flash Manufacturing PMI (Jun.) China’s manufacturing sector slowed again in June, according to today’s flash PMI, as new export orders dropped away and finished goods inventories rose. Prices seem to be falling fast, opening more... 21st June 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update The view from the ground - Q2 2012 Business confidence has deteriorated again this quarter, loan demand has dried up, and most households are unusually concerned about their income prospects. However, sentiment towards the property... 19th June 2012 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack Stimulus to support investment rebound There were signs in May’s data that economic growth was stabilising. In particular, industrial output growth reversed a small part of the April slump. This was most likely the result of a pick-up in... 14th June 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Property outlook brightens China seems to have avoided the deep property slump that many were predicting. But neither property prices nor real estate investment are likely to experience a sharp rebound. 14th June 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update How long will the Hong Kong peg last? A provocative new paper by Joseph Yam, the former head of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, calling for the territory to review its currency peg to the US dollar has once again raised questions over... 13th June 2012 · 1 min read
Global Inflation Watch Inflation to fall further as euro-zone crisis deepens Headline inflation has dropped this year in most major economies and is likely to come down further as global growth falters, the euro-zone crisis deepens and commodity prices continue to fall. We... 12th June 2012 · 1 min read
China Economics Update Banks respond to stimulus call as economy stabilises The May data brought evidence that conditions in China’s economy stopped deteriorating last month and may have moderately improved. With its banks now pumping out loans to willing state-owned... 11th June 2012 · 1 min read
